Discharge control for jigs and like machines



G. H. ELMORE AND H. L. McLEAN. DISCHARGE CONTROL FOR JIGS AND LIKEMACHINES. APPLICATION FILED JUL Z2, I-9I8- RENEWED JAN. 23, I92D- 1,350,47.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

gwvenfom Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

e. H. ELMORE AND H. L.' McLEAN; DISCHARGE CONTROL FOR .IIGS AND LIKEMACHINES. APPLICATION FILED JULY ZZA IQID. RENEWED JAN. 28, N20.

1,350,647. t fig. 24,1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.-

e. HIELMORE AND H. L. McLEAN. DISCHARGE CONTROL FORv 1168 AND LIKEMACHINES. APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, HHBMIRENEWEDJAN-23,1920- I 1 35 0,647; Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUY I-I. ELMORE, or SWARTHMORE, AND HARRY L. MGLEAN, or SOB/ANTON, PENN-sYLvANrA.

DISCHARGE CONTROL FOR JIGS AND LIKE MACHINES.

Application filed July 22, 1918, Serial No. 246,192. Renewed January 23,1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GUY H. ELMonn and HARRY L. MoLnAN, citizens of theUnited States, residing, respectively, at Swarthmore, in the county ofDelaware and State of Pennsylvania, and at Scranton, in the county ofLackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Discharge Controls for Jigs and like Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to machines for separating coal and otherminerals or substances, and consists primarily in a float device forcontrolling the discharge cylinder, valve, or other mechanism by whichthe level of the lower layer on the bed is regulated and keptpractically constant.

The invention is in the nature of an improvement upon or a developmentof that set forth in Letters Patent of the United States granted to GuyH. Elmore, July 11th, 1911, and numbered 997,609. The purpose of theinvention is to simplify the construction and improve the operation ofthe mechanism, substituting purely mechanical means forelectro-mechanical devices such as are employed in the prior structure.It is here illustrated in connection with a coal ji In the accompanyingdrawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the jig;

Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the same;

Fig. 3, a perspective view showing the general arrangement of the floatmechanism and its connection with the longitudinally pocketed slatevalve or drum by which slate and bone or other material is dischargedwhen the accumulation reaches a predetermined thickness or level;

Fig. 4:, a section view of the float or disk and its containingcylinder;

Fig. 5, a View illustrating a modification of the slate valve ordischarge device.

Under prior constructions it has been usual to employ as a means ofregulating the discharge valve, gate, or cylinder, a true float,generally hanging loosely in the coal or other material upon the jiggingbed or screen, and commonly reaching to the meeting line or plane of thecoal and the slate and bone, or either, beneath it. Floats of thischaracter are not wholly satisfactory because subject to the pressureand friction of the mass of coal about them and liable Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Aug. A, 1920.

Serial No. 353,588.

to be impeded or interfered with in their movements by large lumps ofcoal, slate or bone lodging beneath them, and by water, coal or othermatters resting upon and tending to hold them down.

Under the present invention we employ preferably a simple disk movingfreely within a stationary cylinder or casing, which extends down to andpreferably somewhat below the upper surface of the stratum conr posed ofslate, bone, or both. The cylinder holds the coal, slate, and bone awayfrom the upper face and edges of the disk, but permits the slate andbone to rise within the cylinder or casing and lift the disk or float,thereby actuating the discharge valve, cylinder, or device through whichescape of accumulated bone or slate is permitted.

The preferred embodiment is illustrated in the drawings, in which 1indicates the body of a lg having the usual screen 01' sieve 2 uponwhich the coal to be treated is delivered by a chute, hopper, or likemeans. The delivery or tail end of the sieve rests upon a ledge formedupon a casting 3 extending transversely across the box or tanklike bodyof the ig from wall to wall. This casting 3 has an inclined surfaceextending down to a bucket drum or slate valve 41, the shaft of which isjournaled in bearings or boxes carried by the side walls of thestructure, and rotated from time to time to remove so much of theaccumulated bone, slate, or both, as may be necessary to maintain orrestore a proper level or thickness of the lower stratum on the bed.

Above the casting 3, which is curved on its upright face to conform tothe path of the vanes or buckets of the slate valve at, is arranged asecond casting in the form of a crossplate or partition 5, the upperedge 6 of which forms a fixed overflow for the washed coal. Carried bysaid cross plate 5 and adjustable relatively thereto in guideways at itsends, is a cut-off gate or valve 7 having a rod or handle 8 extending tothe top of the machine for the ready adjustment of said valve 7. Anysuitable means may be provided for holding the gate or valve in itsadjusted position, as usual, an eye-bolt 9 being indicated in thedrawings and serving at once as a guide and clamp for the rod.

Beneath the screen 2 is' a hutch 10. pref erably of inverted pyramidalshape, having at its apex a valved outlet 11 for the discharge ofmatters accumulating therein. Extending across the tank or body of themachine is a cross partition 12,'which with the side walls and an endwall of the tank or body, constitute a plunger chamber 13 within whichis arranged a vertically reciprocating plunger 14', movableby aneccentric or crank-shaft as is usual in this class of machines. Theplunger serves to produce pulsations of water alternately upward anddownward through the sieve or screen 2, and through the substances lyingthereon, such pulsations serving by alternately lifting and droppingback the lumps or particles of material, to stratify the same accordingto their different specific gravity, and causing slate and bone toseparate from andfall belOW the coal when coal is being treated.

The face of the cross-plate or partition 5 opposite that on which thesieve .or screen is located is provided with ledges 15 and 16, whichserve to support respectively a screen or perforated (lo-watering plate17 and a water-return plate 18. Projecting from the inner side of saidcross-plate 5 is a vertically adjustable bracket 19, which ing the upperend of the cylinder or casing 20 it is furnished with a cover 21 havinga central opening.

.lVithin the. cylinder or casing 20 is arranged a disk or float 22,which may be of any suitable metal or other-material, and

which plays freely within said cylinder so thatit may rise andfall.thereinwithout friction, the lit beinghowever sufliciently close toprevent particles or granules of bone, slate, or coal working pastthe'disk and enterin the space above it. The disk or float 22 is carriedat the lower end of a rod 23, preferably of tubular form, hung orsuspended in the forked end of an arm 24 carried by a shaft 25, whichmay conveniently be made of rectangular cross section. The arm 24 isformed with a hub or boss to fit said square shaft 25, and provided witha set-screw or other means for securing it againstv movementlongitudinally of the shaft. The arm 24 is'preferably arranged at themidlength of the shaft, and the cylinder or casing 20 and float or disk22 in the medial plane of the machine or at the midwidth of the sieve orscreen 2.

The shaft 25 is' formed with cylindrical journals which turn in boxes orbearings 26 mounted on the upper edges of the side walls of the machine,and is extended beyond its bearing at'oneend to receive a square boss orhub 27 provided with oppositely-extending arms 28 and 29, the arm 28being provided with anadjustable weight or counterbalance 30.

The shaft 31 of the slate valve 4 is ex- 7 tended through a side wall ofthe jig body 1,

and has keyed or otherwise made fast thereon a ratchet-wheel 32. Hungupon this shaft 31 is a swinging or oscillating frame 33, comprising twocastings 34 and 35 with hubs or bosses fitting the shaft 31, andrecessed on their inner faces to receive two parallel iron bars 36 and37 which are connected at their upper ends by a filler block 38, bolts,rivets'or other fastenings serving to firmly unite these several parts.Pivotally supported between the bars 36 and 37, preferably above -theratchet-wheel 32, is a pawl 38 the nose of which tends to fall bygravity into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 32. Theengaging end of this pawl is connected by, a rod 39, preferably formedin two parts connected by a turnbuckle 40, with the outer end of arm 29carried by rockshaft 25. The arms or bars 36 and 37 are longitudinallyslotted to receive a pin or bolt 41, capable of adjustment in said slotand surrounded by a spacing collarv 42, which in turn is encircled by aperforate block 43 carriedat one end of a rod orpitman 44, the oppositeend of which is connected with a crank-arm 45 carried by a shaft 46 atthe plunger end of the jig. This shaft .46 receives motion through abelt or drive chain 47 V passing about sprocket wheels 48 and 49 on saidshaft and on the main driving shaft 50, as seen in Fi '1.

is shown in Figs. 1, 2- and 4, the rod 23 which carries the float ordisk 22 is provided with a series ofperforations to permit adjustment ofthe rod in arm 24, so that the relation of the float 22 to the arm 24may be varied at-will. 7 7

Under the construction above described the operation of the mechanism isas foland bone the intermediateand lower strata,

as is well understood. As the bodybuilds up, the level of the bone andslate gradually rises over the screen and builds up within the cylinderor casing 20, finally coming into contact with the lower face of thefloat or disk 22, and moving up the disk, the rod 23 and the arm 2%,thereby rocking the shaft 25 and lowering the arm 29, the rod 39, andthe pawl 38, which is normally held above and out of engagement with theratchetwheel 32. WV hen the level of the bone and slate rises to apredetermined height, the nose of the pawl 38 drops into engagement withthe teeth of the ratchet, and as the swinging frame 33 is constantlyoscillated, said pawl imparts a step-by-step rotation to theratchet-wheel 32 and;consequently to s raft 31 and slate valve ordischarge drum 4. This rotation of the slate valve or drum carries theslate, or slate and bone, which escapes beneath the gate valve 7 overits top, and discharges it into a lateral chute or trunk by which it isdelivered from the machine.

This action continues until through lowering of the level of the slate,bone, or both, the float or disk 22 descends by reason of itsweight,'aided to whatever extent may be necessary by the properlyadjusted counterweight 30, such descent resulting in a downward rockingof shaft 25 and elevation of pawl 38 until it ceases to engage with oract upon the ratchet-wheel 82. In this way the slate valve or drum iscaused to act intermittently, and to discharge slate, bone, or both,from time to time, or whenever a predetermined maximum height isattained by the slate, bone, or both. The coal being the lightest of thethree bodies, builds up until it rises above the upper edge 6 of thecross plate 5, over which it falls to the dewatering plate 17, and bywhich it is discharged from the machine into a suitable pocket. Thewater carried by the overflowing coal, or flowing over the edge 6,escapes through the perforations of the de-watering plate, and fallsupon the water-return plate 18, which delivers it back to the hutch 10,thus permitting the water to be used over and over.

Such small particles of coal, slate, bone,

. and other impurities as are not taken out by the dc-watering plate,settle in the lower part of the hutch, and are from time to timedischarged through the outlet 11, for which purpose the valve 53 iswithdrawn by its controlling hand lever 54:.

It is obvious that any usual or well-know form of pawl ratchet mechanismmay be employed for imparting motion to the shaft of the slate valve ordischarge drum, and that here shown is merely illustrative of suchmechanism generally.

The invention resides primarily in the protected float or disk, whichunder the construction set forth moves freely, unaffected by weight orpressure of material above it or against its circumference. In otherwords, said float or disk is subject to pressure on its lower face only.It hence re sponds promptly and efiiciently to the rise and fall of thebone, slate, or both, beneath it, and is far more sensitive in actionthan any type or arrangement of float device heretofore used, so far aswe are aware. The construction set forth avoids other e1;- pedientsheretofore deemed necessary, such as making the upper portion of thefloat of conical form, with a view to facilitating its rise through thecoal, or the coal, slate and bone; the provision of lost motion in theconnections between the float and the part which it controls, designedto secure a hammering action or series of blows, and the like.

The particular type or construction of is imimportant, that shown beingone which has proven quite satisfactory in practice, but which isillustrated merely as a type with which the float device mayadvantageously be used. We do not, however, mean to limit ourselves tospecific details, but intend to claim broadly a float, disk, orequivalent device, movable within protecting casing, cylinder, orinclosure, and exposed to pressure only from below, and so long as thisfeature is present other details may be varied within quite wide limits.

The rod 39 may directly actuate a rising and falling outlet valve l suchas shown in Fig. 5, such valve being preferably hinged at its lower edgeso that its free edge n'iay rise and fal and vary the height of itsdelivery edge in consonance with the fall and rise of the slateoverflow. Under such construction the 'itermediate pawl and ratchetmechanism would be omitted, and the rod 39 connected directly with suchgate.

Though a simple cylinder is preferred as a guard or casing for the floator disk 22, it is obvious that the form of the guard is un important,provided the float or disk be properly protected against pressure fromabove or against its circumference.

The invention is obviously applicable to jigs and like machines fortreating minerals generally, though illustrated in connection with acoal jig, such being its primary field of use.

Preliminary adjustments of the cylinder or casing 20 and disk or float22 will be made to suit the minerals to be treated, and the holdingdevices will be fixed and maintained at such adjustments until a changeof materials or a variation in the separation is deemed desirable. It iswith this understanding that the cylinder or casing is referred to asfixed.

In the claims which follow, the term float is to be understood ascomprehending or including a float or body of whatever form, resting inor upon the material under treatment, and the position of which isdetermined by the character and quantity and by the rise and fall ofthematerial beneath it. So, too, tne term guard is used in a broad sense,to mean an imperforate cylinder, casing or the like, whatever :form ormaterial, encompassing and protecting the float substantially in theman- .ner described. As stated, the float-is preferably of disk form,and the guard is preferably in the form of a cylinder.

Having thus described our invention that We claim is: V

1. In combination with a machine for separating bodies of: differingspecific gravity, a perforate bed or screen to support the materials'tobe treated; an outlet at the dis charge end of said bed or screen forthe escapeno'l the heaviermaterials; an overflow for the lightermaterial; a discharge valve controlling the escape of tlie'heaviermaterial; a stationary imperforate casing above the bed or screen; afloat Wholly Within said casing; a ,rockshait provided with a radial armfrom .Whichsaid float is suspended; and

connections between the rocksliaiit and the discharge valve, wherebysaid valve is caused to discharge the heavier materials When'the floatis elevated to predetermined levelby the building up of the heaviermaterial beneath it.y

2. In a 'machine of the character de scribed, the combination of aperforate bed orlscreen; means for eilecting stratiiication of materialsmoving over said screen; adischarge device at the delivery end of saidscreen for controlling delivery of the heavier materiallying'nex' itssuriace; a llxed imperiorate guard located above the screen; a floatcompletely encompassed by and movable xvithin said guard; andconnections be tween the float and-the discharge deviceWherebyjdischarge of material is'tacilitated as the heavier mate *ialbuilds up beneath the float, and 1s hindered as the level of suchmaterial is lowered.

tween the float and the discharge device 3.- In a machine of thecharacter described, the combination of a bed over which the materialtreated travels and on which it is strat ilied; an outlet for thematerial of the. lower stratum; a valve controlling said outlet; a floatresting in or upon and raised and lowered bythe material of saidstratum, and connected With and controlling said valve and a fixed im'ert'orate uard completely encompassing the float and protecting it fromlateral and downward pressure of the material treated.

l. in combination with a jig and its scre'enorbed, a cross plate raisedabove the bed-rte form an outlet at the tail of the screen for theheavier materials, and having an overflow for the lighter material atits nape screen for controlling deliver y ot-the heavier materials; afixed imperforate upright casing above the screen; a float encompassedby and movable Willlllli the casing and subject to the upward pressureof material building up beneath'it; and connections beat the tail of thescreen, whereby the'dischargc of heavier material is 'made proportionateto" the upbuilding thereof beneath the float.

GUY n. Era lone. HARRY. L. MCLEAN.

